From that Caracas 'fort' to a New York court: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension through photographs as well as maps.
The US state the armed forces mission to capture the South American nation's leader took many weeks of careful preparation, but the moment Donald Trump issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly 150 minutes.
The surprise early-morning strike on Saturday marked an unprecedented incident in contemporary international relations and culminated in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.
Captured by soldiers belonging to an elite American military force when they tried to escape inside a fortified secure chamber, the two are now detained at a holding facility in New York and face narco-terrorism charges.
The Dawn Assault on Fuerte Tiuna
With daybreak on Saturday, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's capital, became apparent.
Pictures of Fuerte Tiuna, a massive army installation where senior leadership live, show destroyed structures as well as burned, smouldering vehicles.
The location was this base where Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure a party official reported.
Hours Before - Trump Issues the Command
The mission began with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM local time (06:00 GMT).
The US cut power across the capital, Trump has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.
The goal was to neutralize the nation's air defense systems and clear the way for American assault helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.
"We assessed that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.
Strike locations encompassed the base, a port and an airport. Images show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible for miles.
Residents reported how American choppers flew low over Caracas, en route to the military base.
A number of the aircraft were shot at, but were still able to fly, military leaders stated.
There was a lot of gunfire," Trump noted.
A Rapid Ground Assault
Once on the ground, troops from an elite special operations unit, moved quickly.
They entered the facility at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, according to accounts.
However, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".
The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to get to the door because our guys were so fast.
"It was an extremely heavy door, a massive door," the President told reporters. He reached the entrance. He could not to shut it."
But even if they had succeeded to get into the bunker, forces could have blown it open in about "under a minute."
From the Capital to New York City
Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.
They were flown from the capital via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was completed in international waters by 04:29.
It was on the ship where an iconic image from the entire mission emerged - Maduro in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.
After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation in Cuba.
The Maduros were then flown via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City.
Confronting Justice on American Soil
That same day, footage was released showing the detainee inside the federal drug agency's main office in the city.
He and Cilia Flores are presently being held in a detention centre in the city.
They have been charged including planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices to use against America.
They are set to encounter the complete force of American justice on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official proclaimed.
Video shows the leader's entry into American and journey to detention.